Names to watch in tonight’s draft

With Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili set to retire in the very near future — in the latter’s case, perhaps as early as this summer — and Tony Parker moving into his 30s, they’ll soon be facing a major transition.

Yet in the present day, the Spurs — who have the 28th and 58th picks — were good enough to come within seconds of winning the NBA championship. And with no glaring holes, their immediate needs are more “subtle” in the words of general manager R.C. Buford.

Which makes their draft strategy even tougher to discern than normal.

Case in point: A true backup point guard would probably provide the biggest help. But the Spurs already have three on the roster behind Parker, and it’s doubtful a rookie taken so late will be capable of filling that role immediately.

As such, the Spurs will be looking for contributor they can find, regardless of time frame, with such late picks.

“The function of the draft is to bring fresh talent into an organization,” Buford said Wednesday. “That might be something that is accomplished for this year. It might be accomplished for next year. You don’t know until you get to your pick what’s available.”

A dead-eye shooter who made 40.8 percent of his 3-point makes while running the pick and roll with aplomb. Questions remain about his athletic ability and the lackluster competition he faced in college.

Isaiah Canaan
Murray State (6-1, 195)

More scorer than floor general, Canaan poured in 21.8 points per game to rank sixth among Division I scorers. Like Wolters, he faces doubts about his athleticism, and he’s not a particularly polished ballhandler.

Erick Green
Virginia Tech (6-3, 180)

An explosive scorer and polished shooter who won ACC Player of the Year honors after averaging 25.0 points per game. That he also runs the pick and roll well only adds to his professional potential.

Pierre Jackson Baylor (5-10, 180)

Jackson is undersized and not a particularly good shooter (35.9 percent on 3s). He offset those flaws with tremendous quickness, excellent court vision and perhaps the best handle in college basketball.

Ray McCallum Jr. Detroit (6-2, 190)

Decent size and athleticism allows McCallum to finish well at the rim. He’s also versatile, with the added polish of being a coach’s son. But the lack of a dependable 3-point shot (31.7 percent) is a big weakness.

Wings

Reggie Bullock
North Carolina (6-7, 200)

Bullock has been described as a more athletic Danny Green, and you could do a lot worse than that with the 28th pick. Made 42.9 percent of his 3s, but lacks any other significant offensive skills.

Glen Rice Jr.
Georgia Tech/Rio Grande Valley (6-6, 210)

Would be a first-round lock if not for his dismissal at Tech, leading to his stint in the D-League. Takes after his father as an excellent shooter who lacks athletic ability. Not a particularly good defender or ballhandler.

Giannis Adetokunbo
Filathlitikos, Greece (6-9, 205)

Nicknamed the Greek Freak, Adetokunbo is a fantastic athlete with huge hands and a 7-3 wingspan. He’s still just 18, however, making his long-term potential almost impossible to gauge. An ideal stash prospect.

Jamaal Franklin
San Diego State (6-5, 190)

Having already struck gold with one Aztec, the Spurs might be apt to return to the well. Franklin is an explosive leaper who rebounds and defends well but lacks polish. Needs major work on his jump shot.

Tony Snell
New Mexico (6-7, 200)

Snell is a smooth, sleepy-eyed scorer blessed with an intriguing blend of athleticism and offensive polish. Fades way too often for a player with his skill set, however. Needs more muscle as well.

Bigs

Rudy Gobert
Cholet, France (7-2, 240)

Gigantic Frenchman whose 7-9 wingspan ranks among the largest in recent draft history. But Gobert isn’t particularly athletic or strong, and his offensive game lacks polish.

Mike Muscala
Bucknell (6-11, 230)

Muscala is a marginal athlete who faced sub-standard competition in the Patriot League. But he’s also highly-skilled, with the ability to knock down shots from all over the court. Should be able to add NBA 3-point range.

Gorgui Dieng
Louisville (6-11, 230)

Some scouts question how much upside he has at 23. But he’s already shown the potential to be an excellent defender and rebounder, with a decent mid-range jumper to boot. Also has championship experience.

Jeff Withey
Kansas (7-0, 220)

Perhaps the best shot blocker in the draft, Withey averaged 3.9 per game as a senior with the Jayhawks. Also has decent scoring touch. Rail thin, however, while lacking speed and quickness.

Tony Mitchell
North Texas (6-9, 240)

A likely lottery pick had he left school after his freshman year. Mitchell is athletic and versatile, with the ability to defend, rebound and shoot from the outside. Maturity and attitude are question marks.